This could possibly be the most awaited lens from canon. The first thing I noticed was the weight it felt quiet heavy at first but I quickly got over it, after all I'm used to the 50mm f/1.8 (some 4.5 oz). The canon 18-200 is a fairly compact lens considering its 11X zoom range (I'll post pics as soon as i have a camera to take a picture of my camera.) The non-USM auto focus is sure fast and quiet, and as others have stated the front element doesn't rotate. at first glance it seems nice, I plan to post a more in-depth review of this puppy later this week. Any questions or special requests?

The Lens at 200mm. The zoom ring is nice and large easy to find while looking through the view finder.

A shot of the business end.The lens seems to struggle with a little bit of lens creep (lens creep is when you point the camera down the weight of the lens causes itself to zoom) at 18mm pointed down it will stay put but twist it past the 24mm and it will slowly zoom to the 100mm area; but after that it seems to stay where you zoom it. My 72mm tiffen UV protector filter seems to need a cleaning.

The Lock button.This "LOCK" button will lock the lens in position to keep it from lens creep I assume, please note that it will only lock while at 18mm.

A view of the zoom ring.When you zoom the lens it feels nice, but it doesn't glide frictionless like an L series lens.

A top view of the 18-200mm mounted on a 40D.The focus ring is nice and grippy easy to use although the 18-200mm doesn't use a USM focusing motor it is fast and fairly quiet.

A view of the AF/IS switches.Image stablization on the 18-200 works well (this is my first lens with IS and it is a must at 200mm). Because the IS is built into the lens you actualy see the IS taking effect.

A view of the side of the lens.Not sure what that red mark on the top of the lens is. My serial is 4501040815.

Thanks for the vignetting pictures, Tomis! Don't worry about the darkness, as the vignetting effect is clearly seen.
I took a look at your Flickr too. Man, you got REALLY good pictures there! Congratulations!

i was shooting at the skatepark the other day with my friend, he was shooting with his Nikon D60 and 18-55 & 55-200, i was shooting with my trusty dusty Cannon 40D and 18-200. He was very envious of me, he kept switching lenses and then he would miss shots because he didn't have the right lens on or he was still switching. Overall i must say i am happy with my purchase, as far as compact all-in-one lenses you can't beat the cannon 18-200!